Following rains in Himachal Pradesh, the Markanda river and other seasonal rivulets which were flowing below the danger point, are now in spate. Seven persons, including three women, were swept away by the raging waters in the recent flash floods, but were all rescued alive. Crops in the catchment areas on either side of the river were inundated, poplar trees were uprooted and washed away in the gushing waters. When in spate, the rivers and rivulets in the area, including Markanda, Tangri, Ghaggar, Roon and Begna, bring misery to the villages. However, during the floods which lead to the overflowing and breaching of the SYL canal in the district, these rivers flowed below the danger mark and didn